European Economic Area And Norwegian Financial Mechanisms
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1.2 EEA grants 4
1.2.1 Main Objectives 4
1.2.2 General principles on how to apply for the grants 6
1.3 Chapter 2: Case Study 10
1.3.1 Project characteristics 10
1.3.1.1 Project description 11
1.3.1.2 Project management 11
1 Chapter 1: EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms
1.1 Introduction
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was established in 1960 to create a free trade area among its then 7 Member States: United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal. Additionally, free trade agreements were concluded between EFTA States and a number of other countries worldwide too. The organization was parallel to the already existing body - the European Economic Community (being a part of the Economic Communities – later commonly referred to as the Economic Community which after having grown in size is referred to as the European Union). Nowadays EFTA numbers only 4 countries: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
European Economic Area came into being in 1994 upon an agreement signed two years earlier. The concluded agreement concerns contemporary EFTA countries (except for Switzerland) and the EU countries. Thus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway became participants of the European Union Internal Market but they do not assume full EU membership responsibilities. They can be consulted by the Commission but they have no voice in decision-making. ‘The EEA Agreement explicitly states that a country becoming a member of the EU shall also apply to become party to the EEA Agreement.’ According to the provisions in the Agreement a EEA-EFTA cooperation in a range of Community activities is allowed. The fields of activities embrace: research and technological development, information services, the environment, education, social policy, consumer protection, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism, the...
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